A Quote from a Great Man

Submitted by CaliFan on

I live in California, and have been an avid Michigan fan for about the past 2 years...especially now since my brother is a Grad student (he was also an undergrad, but I had yet to see the true value of being a Michigan Fan :).

Out here most people live and breath Cal or USC football, and wearing my Michigan jersey will bring shouts of "Michigan Sucks" even from those fabulous 49ers fans...yes the same team whose record closely resembles our beloved Wolverines.

Needless to say, hearing all the anti-RR banter, and reading the absolute garbage that comes from the media and many bloggers has made me resent many of those who call themselves "fans" of the Maize and Blue. Every Saturday I wake up to watch our boys take the field, and in fact the Minnesota game will forever hold a small place in my heart, as later that same day I married the love of my life...it couldn't have been a more perfect day.

I am excited to have RichRod as our coach...just as excited as I was last year on the day I found out we had him and one of my close friends, an MSU grad, just moaned. While she got her wish this year with a win from her "little brother"...she knew, deep down inside, she knew...Michigan will be a force in the coming years under RichRod.

This post was not designed to elicit responses...and if you see fit to poke fun or rip on what I am saying, so be it, you are not a true fan, and your words are wasted, as I really don't care what you write. BUT, if you feel like responding and it's positive, please write it, so others can see, we are not alone...we are Michigan.

Don't get me wrong, you are allowed to be frustrated, in fact if you aren't frustrated, I would question your devotion to this program...but please don't attack me, this is not my fault, only my opinion.

But before you comment, please read the following quote from Teddy Roosevelt, as I feel it encompasses many of the things we, and RichRod, are going through this year.

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Keep your chins up, this week we take the field as part of the greatest rivalry in all of college football, and we are alive to see it. Maybe you feel that it isn't the same as years past but GOD DAMMIT THIS IS MICHIGAN FOOTBALL, cheer for our boys, cheer for Rich Rod, cheer for all of those who have participated in this wonderful event, and most importantly cheer for Michigan, we are only as strong as our weakest fan...GO BLUE!!!!

Comments

Subrosa

November 20th, 2008 at 12:30 AM ^

I've lived in the Bay Area almost my entire life. I get the same thing. When I tell people I have to wake up early on Saturday to watch Michigan, I always get the same "Why!?" look.

It's cool. Because then I meet someone from the Midwest and they get it.

Regardless, nice Teddy quotation. Go Blue.

Subrosa

November 20th, 2008 at 9:50 AM ^

I live in SF and just spring for all the cable channels so I can watch the games. Sometimes I go to the Blue Light which is the alumni bar, but every time I do they lose, so I've sworn it off for the moment. Dunno of any M bars in San Jose.

ken725

November 20th, 2008 at 2:41 AM ^

Southern California is not a good place to be a Michigan fan. I was surfing at venice beach the day before the USC vs. tOSU game and the place was crawling with stupid douche bags. One guy was even wearing an App State sweatshirt. It was a terrible day and I wish I had my jersey.

GO BLUE

tomhagan

November 20th, 2008 at 6:46 AM ^

...while running and no one has ever given me problems. Last time I wore my UM cutoff on the beach, two cute girls yelled "Hey Michigan!!" at me...

so its not all bad. :)